Dear Roadrunners, 

If there is a theme to this edition of my regular article, it’s progress. Projects are moving forward successfully and inclusively across campus and beyond. While there are a lot of moving pieces, we’ll endeavor to keep everyone informed as we strive to optimize MSU Denver spaces and operations. 

 

Workday launch 

MSU Denver officially transitioned to Workday on Jan. 4, and as of last week more than 2,200 employees had logged in to the system. The Workday team estimates that 95% of the transition went very smoothly. Some challenges have arisen with security permissions, integrations, onboarding and ensuring data consistency, but the transition team is working diligently to reconcile all challenges and support tickets. Additionally, Banner-records transfer errors related to student pay have been resolved, and the team has identified the cause of this error and ensured it won’t happen in the future. 

As a reminder, student employees must clock in/out daily and a supervisor must correct any missed time entries for students. Employees should also check their personal information for accuracy, including pay slips (previously called pay stubs).  

While you may see mass communications regarding Workday slowing down, the team continues to work directly with employees to address needs and concerns. Please continue to submit Workday-related questions to the Workday Launch Support Service, as it’s helpful for the transition team to understand areas of opportunity and continue building out a comprehensive and relevant FAQ resource.

In the meantime, if you receive any “action required” emails, please act on them as soon as possible. Employees should also refer to the Go-Live Communications folder in the Workday Transformation Team to complete the Workday Getting Started Checklists 1 and 2 if they haven’t done so already. A variety of resources are also available in the Job Aids and Related Demos folder, to includes job aids, videos and demos.  

As stated in the most recent meeting of the President’s Cabinet: 

  • For January, the team will prioritize addressing critical items such as payroll or issues that could affect courses as well as identifying and filling training or documentation gaps.   
  • For February and beyond, the team will tackle adaptive budget planning, talent management, Learning and Development and funding decisions for the student-system transformation.  
  • Employees can explore Workday and submit support requests via msudenver.edu/workday.  

The Workday team thanks all Roadrunners for their continued patience and partnership through this significant transition. 

Sim Labs project update 

The Sim Labs project remains in the pricing-and-construction-documentation phase, with construction-document review meetings scheduled for late February. Now through May, the following departments will move from their existing locations to new locations. Except for Financial Aid, no temporary locations are needed.  

  • Office of the Controller (two phases) 
  • Classroom to Career Hub 
  • Center for Individualized Learning 
  • Financial Aid 
  • Information Technology Services 

Beginning this March through May 2024, the following departments will move from their existing locations to temporary locations and then to their new locations. All departments will use Modular 1 or remote work.  

  • Center for Teaching, Learning and Design 
  • Office of International Studies 
  • Criminal Justice and Criminology 
  • Nutrition 
  • Health Professions 
  • Teaching from Primary Sources 
  • Nursing (WC244) 

In March, the following departments will move permanently from their existing locations. These spaces will be given to the Center for Individualized Learning and ITS, supporting the overall goals and vision of the University and the Nursing Sim Labs project. 

  • Jordan Student Success Building Computer Lab 

The latest information is always available on the Health Institute Simulation Labs Project site here. You may submit any questions or feedback directly to Martha Nelson, senior project manager for Facilities Planning, Design and Construction.   

Updated badges and access requests 

As a reminder, due to software updates, badges and key fobs older than 2014 may no longer work on upgraded building access systems, so all employees are encouraged to ensure they have current badges. Please visit the AHEC ID Station website for more information.

Additionally, all access requests for MSU Denver student employees, faculty members and staff members must be approved by your department office manager or designated signing authority with an update to your departmental matrix, which should be emailed to Auraria Higher Education Center Access Control. Also note that student employees’ access expires at the end of every semester, so departments must send in an updated matrix with their information on it at the beginning of the semester to have them reprogrammed. You can email MSU Denver Facilities ([email protected]) with any questions.    

 

Connecting Auraria project update 

Decorative map detailing road closures and routes. Larimer bridge is closed. Pedestrian route is Market Street to 14th to Lawrence. Vehicle routes include taking Blake Street, Market Street or Lawrence Street towards 14th Street.The Connecting Auraria project is underway, focusing on the replacement of the 60-year-old Larimer Street bridge that connects downtown to the Auraria Campus over Cherry Creek and into Larimer Square. The project is expected to be completed next fall.  

Planned improvements  

The Denver Department of Transportation & Infrastructure is in the process of replacing the bridge between 14th Street and Speer Boulevard. This section of Larimer Street will be transformed to remove curbs, widen sidewalks to 12 feet and add a two-way protected bikeway to increase Americans With Disabilities Act access and promote alternative, sustainable transit options. Streetscaping improvements will be added, such as patterned concrete, pedestrian lighting, seating, planters and trees. The bridge will retain one car lane.   

This work complements efforts to better integrate the Auraria Campus into the fabric of downtown Denver and showcase the campus as a dynamic, vibrant part of downtown’s past, present and future, as outlined in the AHEC Strategic Plan.  

The project is in Phase II of demolition and reconstruction, which will continue through spring. Phase III reconstruction work will kick off at midyear and continue through the fall. 

  • Students and employees who use Larimer Street to commute between downtown and the Auraria Campus should plan for extra commuting time.  
  • Pedestrians can cross Speer Boulevard at Lawrence Street instead of Larimer Street.   
  • One lane of northbound Speer Boulevard will be closed, but access to the parking lot at the corner of Larimer Street and 14th Street will remain open.  
  • The Cherry Creek Trail will also be closed around the project site, and detours will be posted.   
  • During peak travel times, all lanes of Speer Boulevard in the project zone will be open to motorists.   
  • During nonpeak hours, motorists can expect one-lane closures.  
  • Working hours will be Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., with occasional weekend work from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Sincerely,   

Larry Sampler, chief operating officer, vice president for Administration